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At the turn of the 20th century, many towns and villages in America found it necessary to expand their schools as large numbers of new immigrants arrived from Europe. In 1913, South Deerfield, Massachusetts, built its largest school ever, with two floors and a full basement of classrooms. This 1913 school was state-of-the-art, with elaborate ventilation systems and indoor plumbing, both deemed important for the health of the students. Compulsory education for children ages 8 to 15 had begun in 1858.